Procrastination is an art....

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I have never been as unprepared for Christmas as I am right now. I have not purchased one single gift yet. Usually, by now, I have them bought and wrapped and under the tree. Nope, not this year.

Usually, by now, I have every inch of my apartment decorated with my mammoth Santa Claus collection. Nope, not this year. Oh there's one or two peeking out here and there but the rest are still stored away in their Rubbermaid bin.

I'm not sure why I'm putting all of this off. Oh sure, there was stuff going on. You know, like getting married and all??? And a new job to take on. Yeah, there was that too. Ironically, I am not worried at all about this stuff getting done either. There's no panic, no sense of coming undone. I know I will get gifts for my family and if the Santa's don't make it out this year, there's always next year.

Right now, I am completely content and at peace. I feel very happy inside. And isn't that what Christmas is really all about?

Oh, and yesterday Alexander and I brought home this little girl.

Her name is Belle. She's only 7 months old, all clumsy and cute. She grabbed our hearts at the kitty shelter a few weeks ago and we knew she chose us to be her people.

What's that? Good news??

I realized that what I really need right now is to be near Alexander. Every day work seems to sap more of my life and brain away and at night it's too damn quiet and boring here. I was about to call it quits this morning after a particularly heinous conference call when I just decided to call Alex and tell him that come hell or high water we are going to get him here at Christmas. He agreed! And that one simple act made the rest of my hellish day completely bearable. So all I have to say is "C'mon Christmas!!"

I've been coming home after 12 hour days feeling like a shell for the past month or so. Today I tried to take a little nap after work but the cats decided tromping all over me chasing one another was the thing to do. I couldn't be mad at them. I've felt like tromping all over someone for a long time...with boots on. So I let them have their fun and, in a way, I envied them their shear joy.